OPM Claims Responsibility of Shooting, Dares Jokowi to Catch Them
6 December 2018 12:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sebby Sambom of The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), challenged President Joko Widodo to capture them. The military wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has claimed accountability over the shooting in Nduga that killed 31 construction workers.
Jokowi had ordered the police and the army to capture the people responsible for the murder in Nduga, Papua. "The OPM is not afraid of his order. We are not afraid," Sebby told Tempo on the phone on Thursday, December 6.
Sebby said that they are not afraid to fight the army and the police, as they know the forests better. He claimed that the group deliberately attacked the workers building the Trans Papua project because they reject all infrastructure development in West Papua.
"We are fighting against all development programs in West Papua. What we want is freedom," he said.
On Monday, December 3, a group of armed men shot at workers who were building a bridge at Yigi River and Aurak River at Nduga Regency. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), a military wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has claimed accountability for the murders.
Sebby said that the attack was led by Egianus Kogoya and that the attack had been planned out since three months ago.
According to Sebby, the TPNPB had attacked the project before, but the government insisted on carrying on.
"They ignored us and returned to Yigi to continue the project. We decided to warn them."
President Joko Widodo has ordered TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Indonesian National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to arrest armed men who attacked and killed the Trans-Papuan workers. Jokowi instructed that every single one of them must be captured and not allowed to escape.
"I have also ordered the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief to pursue and arrest everyone who committed this barbaric act," the President said at a press conference at the State Palace on Wednesday, December 5.
Jokowi said that the TNI Commander and Deputy National Police Chief were already in Papua.
Syafiul Hadi
